"A Swirl Can Turn Into a Masterpiece": How One Artist is Illuminating Shriners Children's Boston, One Installation at a Time

When visitors to Shriners Children’s Boston glance up from the outpatient waiting area, they are greeted by a larger-than-life rendering of Fezzy, the Shriners Children’s mascot. The atrium design of the hospital’s upper floors offers a clear view of the colorful mural featuring the beloved bear with his arms wrapped around the world.

The inspired artwork was created by award-winning artist Jamaal Rolle, nicknamed the "Celebrity Artist” because of the prominent individuals he has painted, including Pope Francis and President Barack Obama. Jamaal is known for the participatory nature of his projects. Patients, families and staff contributed their own dash of creativity to the mural – and Jamaal used that foundation to bring Fezzy to life. The inclusion of the globe in the artwork symbolizes the international reach of Shriners Children’s. Patients come to the Boston location from all over the world for specialized pediatric care.

Jamaal said some children were worried about making mistakes on the wall. “I would say – you can do it. Then we couldn’t get them away because they could see it all starts with a mark. And a dot can turn into a line, a line can turn into a swirl, and a swirl can turn into a masterpiece. I think everybody has a masterpiece in them,” he said.

Shriners Children’s Boston’s Director of Therapeutic Services Lori Connolly, DPT, PT, noted that working with Jamaal has been “gratifying.” She said projects like this “have given our patients the tools to explore their creative side and Jamaal has willingly shared his expertise and experience, mentoring them along.”

Lori explained that art projects also have clinical benefits. “In the clinical sense they offer another avenue for our therapists to engage patients in movement and function-based activities to reinforce their goals in therapy.”

This summer, Jamaal returned to Shriners Children’s Boston, bringing his signature artistic style to the outpatient clinic, creating an ocean scene featuring seashells, a starfish, seahorse, dolphin and more. The star of the show is a giant sea turtle who holds center stage in the drawing.

In just over an hour, Jamaal drew the design using a black paint pen and assigned specific colors to some sections of the sketch. Patients and families then helped Jamaal paint the mural. Over the course of a few days, Jamaal completed the mural, incorporating more color and adding exquisite detail.

Jamaal was introduced to Shriners Children’s Boston through his friend Cindi Gianopoulos. A longtime supporter of the hospital, Cindi has helped connect patients with specialized care through family friend and Shriners Children’s Boston plastic surgeon Daniel Driscoll, M.D. “After I met Jamaal, I asked Dr. Driscoll what he thought about our mural project. He passed along the idea, Jamaal and I came to the hospital, and it feels like we never left,” Cindi said.

Jamaal and Cindi were so inspired by the patients and families they met in Boston that they both became certified therapeutic arts practitioners. “Coming here and experiencing the innocence of kids who have been through trying times and to see art become so therapeutic that they immerse themselves in it was such a special feeling. Working with Shriners Children’s Boston has become a magnet for me – I just couldn’t stay away,” Jamaal said.

“Art is therapeutic in its own way. It helps lower stress and gives an outlet for feelings a patient may not be able to verbalize. With everything these children have been through, any opportunity to bring fun, decrease stress and engage with others is a beautiful thing,” Lori said.

Jamaal said the enthusiasm of the children participating in the projects has made him even more grateful for art’s power. “Art is a unifier. This process of participating is something that gives everyone the opportunity to leave their mark on the canvas,” he said.

Cindi recalls the first patient who helped with the Fezzy mural. “We were told the patient only wanted to stay for a few minutes, but he ended up painting the whole time,” she said.

Inspired by their work at Shriners Children’s Boston, Cindi and Jamaal recently established ParticiPaint – a nonprofit dedicated to supporting projects that bring communities together through visual arts.

Tucked away on the seventh floor next to the Fezzy mural is Jamaal’s third artistic contribution to the hospital. It is designed around a special bell, donated by the Boston Firefighters Burn Foundation after it was retired from a fire truck. Patients ring the bell in celebration after reaching a milestone in their care journey. Jamaal wanted to honor the symbolism of the bell through his art, so he painted a celebratory theme around the bell complete with bright colors, confetti and a gold medal.

Jamaal’s career as an artist, cultural advocate and public servant led to his appointment as Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of The Bahamas to UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. The agency works to strengthen global partnerships in art, education, science and culture. The role has broadened his perspective on how creativity can connect people and strengthen communities.

Jamaal is already looking ahead to his next visit to Boston. “I’m sketching the next mural for Shriners Children’s Boston, and I’m excited to ‘ParticiPaint’ with the kids again,” he said.